Patriots' Drake Maye Faces Broncos' Stifling Defense in AFC Title Game

Backup QB Jarrett Stidham steps in for injured Bo Nix as Denver aims to slow down New England's offense

Apr. 20, 2026 at 2:25am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the intense action of an NFL playoff game, with fragmented shapes and planes representing the players, ball, and field in motion.The Patriots and Broncos clash in a high-stakes AFC Championship battle, with both teams' defenses aiming to disrupt the opposing offense.Denver Today

The New England Patriots will face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, an MVP finalist, will look to lead his team past Denver's formidable defense, which led the league with a franchise-record 68 sacks this season. Meanwhile, Broncos backup QB Jarrett Stidham will start in place of the injured Bo Nix. The game features a rematch of the 2013 and 2015 AFC title games, both of which were won by Denver.

Why it matters

This high-stakes playoff matchup between two of the AFC's top teams will determine who advances to the Super Bowl. The Patriots are seeking their 13th conference championship appearance in the last 25 seasons, while the Broncos are aiming to continue their dominant home playoff record and return to the big game.

The details

Maye has been sacked 10 times and turned the ball over 11 times in the playoffs so far, and will face a major test against Denver's fierce pass rush. Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto forced two fumbles against the Bills last week. On the other side, Stidham will make his first playoff start, having appeared in just 20 games with four starts in his six-year career.

  • The AFC Championship game will be played on Sunday, April 20, 2026 at 3 p.m. EST.
  • The Patriots and Broncos last met in the playoffs in the 2015 AFC Championship game, which Denver won 20-18.

The players

Drake Maye

The Patriots' MVP finalist quarterback who had three touchdown passes in the divisional round win over the Texans.

Jarrett Stidham

The Broncos' backup quarterback who will start in place of the injured Bo Nix.

Nik Bonitto

The Broncos linebacker who forced two fumbles against the Bills in the divisional round.

Stefon Diggs

The Patriots wide receiver who has played in the most postseason games (16) among all Patriots players.

K'Lavon Chaisson

The Patriots linebacker who has three sacks this postseason and is looking to tie a franchise record.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for the Broncos' fierce pass rush. Their defense has been dominant all season and we know they'll be bringing the pressure on Sunday.”

— Drake Maye, Patriots Quarterback

“This is a huge opportunity for me to step up and help my team reach the Super Bowl. I'm ready to give it my all out there.”

— Jarrett Stidham, Broncos Quarterback

What’s next

The winner of this AFC Championship game will advance to Super Bowl LX.

The takeaway

This matchup features two of the AFC's top teams and will come down to which quarterback - Maye or Stidham - can best handle the pressure and lead their team to victory. The Broncos' stifling defense will be the key factor in determining the outcome.